UNK scholarship program paves path to rewarding careers in public administration

KEARNEY – Brenda Jensen is a big supporter of the Nebraska Good Life Opportunities Program.

When the new scholarship program was announced last fall, she came to the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus to meet with prospective students and talk about her career.

“Public administration is kind of an unknown field,” she said. “I don’t think there are a lot of 17- and 18-year-olds who even understand this is an opportunity for them. That’s why it’s important to promote this field of study.”

As city manager, Jensen oversees the day-to-day operations in Kearney, a growing community with around 34,000 residents. This includes everything from garbage collection and wastewater treatment to law enforcement, parks and recreation, library services and street maintenance.

“I get to lead an organization that has an impact on everyone who calls Kearney home, whether it’s for a day because they’re just here visiting or whether they live, work or own a business here,” she said. “We get to make a positive impact on people’s lives, and that’s pretty rewarding.”

In addition to directing a municipal workforce of more than 300 full-time employees, Jensen is responsible for developing and maintaining the city budget, coordinating projects and initiatives with council members and planning for the city’s future.

Her efforts can be seen at Kearney Regional Airport, where SkyWest offers daily flights to Denver, or the new Kearney SportsPlex, a 209,000-square-foot indoor athletic facility that’s scheduled to open this spring. The city is also competing for a Good Life District through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. That project, estimated at $225 million, would expand the hospitality district near Interstate 80, bringing more stores, restaurants, visitors and jobs to the community.

Jensen calls her position exciting and fast-paced – an “amazing career” for someone who enjoys teamwork, problem-solving and lifelong learning.

“No two days are the same, so you’re not going to get bored,” she said. “That’s another thing that I think can be appealing to a high schooler. They don’t necessarily want to just sit behind a desk. They like the opportunity to do a variety of things and learn and grow. I think that’s one of the things that makes this field so intriguing. I’m literally learning something new every single day.”

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